Sarvam AI is positioned to revolutionize AI adoption across India within the next few years, potentially powering citizen services in rural areas and enabling enterprises to build localized applications without risking data sovereignty. The Bengaluru-based startup, founded in 2023, develops large language models specifically for India's linguistic diversity, supporting over 10 Indian languages with voice-first applications, and has been selected by the Indian government to build the country's first sovereign Large Language Model.
What will India's AI landscape look like in the coming years?
By 2030, India could emerge as a global AI superpower, transitioning from consumer to co-creator of AI technologies. Sarvam AI is building the foundation for an AI ecosystem where technology works seamlessly across India's diverse languages.
The potential applications span from agricultural advisory services in regional languages to enabling vernacular entrepreneurs to build AI-powered businesses without language constraints. This represents a fundamental shift in how AI accessibility works in multilingual societies.
Where does Sarvam AI stand today in this transformation?
Sarvam AI currently leads India's AI startup ecosystem, having secured $41 million in Series A funding - the largest round by an early-stage AI company in India. The funding round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Peak XV Partners and Khosla Ventures.
The company has raised a total of $53.6 million and carries a valuation of ₹921 crores, establishing strong market credibility and investor confidence in their India-focused approach.
Who are the founders driving this vision?
The company was founded by Dr. Vivek Raghavan, who played a key role in building Aadhaar (the world's largest digital identity program), and Dr. Pratyush Kumar, an AI researcher with tenure at Microsoft Research, IBM Research, and IIT Madras.
Dr. Kumar also co-founded AI4Bharat, which pioneered Indian language AI applications. Their combined expertise in public infrastructure and AI research creates a solid foundation for developing population-scale solutions.
How is the government supporting Sarvam AI?
The Indian government selected Sarvam AI to develop India's first foundational Large Language Model under the ₹10,000-crore IndiaAI Mission. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the potential of Indian language models to address population-scale challenges.
The government is providing 4,000 high-end GPUs for six months through partnerships with companies like Yotta Data Services, Tata Communications, and E2E Networks. This computational support is crucial for training large-scale AI models.
What sets Sarvam AI apart from global AI companies?
While international companies build AI for global markets, Sarvam AI develops large language models from scratch specifically for Indian languages and use cases. They currently support over 10 Indian languages including Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, and Kannada.
Their focus centers on voice-first applications, recognizing that voice interaction represents the primary mode of technology engagement for most Indians. This approach addresses practical accessibility challenges in diverse linguistic environments.
What products has Sarvam AI launched?
In 2024, Sarvam AI launched a full-stack GenAI platform featuring five core products: Sarvam Agents, Sarvam 2B, Shuka 1.0, Sarvam Models, and A1.
The platform enables businesses to develop multilingual, voice-enabled agents for WhatsApp users across India. They also provide APIs for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and translation services designed specifically for Indian languages.
What's the significance for India's technological independence?
India hosts over 1.4 billion people speaking more than 20 officially recognized languages, yet most AI models function primarily in English. Sarvam AI's success could determine whether India achieves AI leadership or remains dependent on foreign technologies.
Their model variants - Sarvam-Large, Sarvam-Small, and Sarvam-Edge - target advanced reasoning capabilities while delivering fluency across Indian languages. Success in this venture means AI becomes an inclusion enabler rather than creating another digital divide.
The development represents more than technological advancement - it's about ensuring comprehensive participation in the AI revolution across India's linguistic diversity.